Kiwifruit plant

ABSTRACT

A new and distinctive variety of kiwifruit is described. This fruit is a sport or mutation of the `Hayward` variety. It is distinguished by its long and substantially cylindrical fruit. It was first observed in a kiwifruit orchard in Pongakawa, New Zealand.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive kiwifruit cultivar having a large and generally cylindrically shaped fruit. More particularly, the new cultivar is designated `Wilkins Super` and is a mutation or sport from the `Hayward` variety.

After the new variety was discovered, it was asexually reproduced in 1979 on Petitioners' property at Pongakawa, New Zealand, by grafting onto rootstock of the `Bruno` variety. The fruit was first observed on the reproduced plants in 1982. `Wilkins Super` has been tested with favorable results at two sites in a New Zealand government research orchard at Te Puke, New Zealand. This testing, which has been conducted under strict supervision, demonstrated that the reproduced plants have the same characteristics as the original plant from which graftwood was taken.

The invention may be more fully understood by having reference to the accompanying photographic color reproductions, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a box of fruit of `Wilkins Super`.

FIG. 2 shows a typical collection of mature fruit on a vine in an orchard.

FIG. 3 shows a typical mature fruit of the `Wilkins Super` on the right variety next to a `Hayward` fruit of a similar maturity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fruit and Fruiting

The distinctive characteristics of this new kiwifruit cultivar described in detail below have been observed since its discovery in 1982.

`Wilkins Super` is distinct from the `Hayward` variety in its fruit shape. As is illustrated in FIG. 3 `Wilkins Super` is notably longer. Other fruit characteristics such as hair density, color and asymmetry of fruit shape are similar to that of `Hayward`.

`Wilkins Super` is different from two other "long-shaped" kiwifruit, `Bruno` and `Gracie` in a number of characteristics set out in Table 1.

The distinctive characteristics of this new kiwifruit cultivar described in detail below have been observed since its discovery in 1982.

`Wilkins Super` is distinct from the `Hayward` variety in its fruit shape. As illustrated in FIG. 3 `Wilkins Super` is notably longer. Other fruit characteristics such as hair density, color and asymmetry of fruit shape are similar to that of `Hayward`.

`Wilkins Super` is different from two other "long-shaped" kiwifruit, `Bruno` and `Gracie` in a number of characteristics set out in Table 1.

The color designations hereinafter set forth are according to the Munsell Color System - Nickerson Color Fan.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Differences from `Bruno`                                                       `Bruno`              `Wilkins Super`                                           ______________________________________                                         1.  Dormant cane bark color                                                                             Cane bark color lighter,                                  dark, purplish brown (10 R 4/4).                                                                    yellow/green/brown                                                             (5 YR 5/2).                                           2.  Bud surface flat.    Bud surface convex.                                   3.  Bud break and fruitful-                                                                             Bud break and fruitful-                                   ness high.           ness.                                                 4.  Flower petals flat, free.                                                                           Petals involute, over-                                                         lapping.                                              5.  Style curved tip only.                                                                              Style strongly curved in                                                       middle.                                               6.  Fruits more symmetrical,                                                                            Fruits asymmetrical, hairs                                hairs reddish brown (5 YR 4/8).                                                                     dark brown (7, 5 YR 7/6).                             7.  Fruit core small.    Fruit core large.                                     ______________________________________                                         Differences from `Gracie`                                                      `Gracie`             `Wilkins Super`                                           ______________________________________                                         1.  Leaves flat, horizontal.                                                                            Leaves flat, downturned.                                  Petiole hairs few long,                                                                             Petiole hairs short light                                 brown (7, 5 YR 7/6). red (5 YR 7/8).                                       2.  Petals recurved, corolla                                                                            Petals cupped, corolla                                    revolute and overlap-                                                                               involute and overlapping.                                 ping. Hairs on stylar                                                                               Hairs on stylar base                                      base few short.      dense and long.                                       3.  Fruit shape obovoid  Fruit shape oblong with                                   with sloped shoulders.                                                                              prominent shoulders.                                  ______________________________________                                    

A comparison of measurements of length and of length and width ratios between `Wilkins Super` and `Hayward` is set out below in Table 2. The measurements were made on a sampling of at least ten fruit from five vines.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Measurements of length/width ratios                                                    Av. length                                                                              Ratio length                                                                              Ratio width (max)                                          (inches) width (max)                                                                               length                                             ______________________________________                                         `Hayward` 2.63       1.18       0.849                                          `Wilkins Super`                                                                          3.16       1.53       0.651                                          ______________________________________                                    

The fruit is of a large size as compared to the `Hayward` variety. It is substantially cylindrical in shape but has a elliptical cross-section typical of the `Hayward` variety. The skin color is greenish/brown (5 Y 6/4), also typical of `Hayward`. It has a silky type of hair of sparse density. The length of the hair is long and in this characteristic is distinguishable from `Hayward`. The hairs at harvest are medium brown (7, 5 YR 7/6). The stylar end is flat. The diameter of the columella (median cross-section) is medium, in cross-section the columella is elliptical. The green color of the flesh is a medium green. (2 5 GY 7/8).

The time of maturity for harvest is late. This time is reached when the average soluble solids content of a sample of at least ten fruit from five vines (measured using a refractometer) reaches 6.2% ss.

The storage life in cool store of `Wilkins Super` is comparable with that of `Hayward`. The storage life of `Hayward` is notably longer than that of other kiwifruit varieties.

Plant

The plant demonstrates a female sex expression. It has a medium vigor.

A young shoot was observed two month after flowering on undernotes of four to eight inches on the tip of growing shoots. A medium anthocyanin (5 YR 4/10) coloration of hairs was observed. The hairs were of medium density as in the `Hayward` variety and of short length. The anthocyanin (5 YR 4/10) coloration in the leaf axil was weak as in the `Hayward` variety.

The central third of a stem of a dormant cane was observed after leaf fall. The color was reddish/brown (5 YR 5/2) as in `Hayward`. The "russet" on the bark was longitudinal. The number of lenticels was few and of medium conspicuousness. The wood bud support was small and the leaf scar was medium as in `Hayward`.

A first fully developed leaf was observed from the growth tip. It had a generally oblate blade and cuspidate tip. The angle of the apical part was obtuse. The shape at the base was touching. The upper surface of the leaf had a medium glossiness. The density of hair on the main veins of the upper side of the leaf was medium as in `Hayward`. The density of hair between the main veins on the upper side of the leaf was sparse. The density of hair on the main veins on the lower side of the leaf was medium. The density of stellate hair between the main veins on the lower side of the leaf was dense. The anthocyanin coloration (5 YR 4/10) of the petiole was weak.

A mature leaf was observed near the base of the current season's growth on mature but not old leaves. The green color (7, 5 GY 4/4) on the other side was dark. The blistering of the upper side was medium as in the `Hayward` variety. The spiney ciliation on the margin was absent. The glossiness of the upper surface was medium. The time of leaf fall was late.

The time of the beginning of a flowering was late as in the `Hayward` variety. The predominant number of flowers was one as in the `Hayward` variety. The length of the pedicel was medium having short hairs. The length of the sepal of the flower was medium and of a cream/brown color (2,5 Y 7/6). The length of the petal was medium with a length/width ratio of petal being less than twice as long as broad. The petals were overlapping. The petals had a smooth surface with a cut (involute) curvature and no shoulder. The many styles were curved above the middle and semi-erect. There were tufts or hairs present at the base of these styles as in the `Hayward` variety. There were many stemens present. 

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of kiwifruit plant herein described and illustrated, and identified by the characteristics enumerated above. 